Collapsible stand



Patented June 2, 1953 COLLAPSIBLE STAND Michael P. Walzak, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Application November 28, 1950, Serial No. 197,915

1 Claim.

My invention relates to music stands, particularly to collapsible music stands, an object of my invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is, when in the normally open position, rigid, stable, and sturdy.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which, when collapsed, is compact, and requires no further encasement or covering to enhance its portability.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herevvithin described which, in slightly modified form, is readily adaptable for service as a portable, collapsible, lectern.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which, is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and use, and which is well suited to the purposes for which it is intended.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my collapsible music stand, in the open position.

Figure 2 is also a front elevation of my collapsible music stand, in partially collapsed position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of the hinging of different parts.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-section of the stiffenin flange in situ.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Two plates 1 and 2 comprise the support structure or base member of my device. The said plates are reverse images of each other in conformation, and are flat rectangular sheets of light semi-rigid material such as plywood, sheet plastic, or compressed fibre board. The rectangular conformation is, however, modified along the upper edges of each plate. The plate I has the upper edge 3 sloped upwardly and rearwardly from the outer to the inner side. Upper edge 4 of the plate 2 is similarly sloped from outer to inner side.

The two rear vertical edges 5 and 6 of the plates I and 2 are contiguous and hinged along the entire length thereof. A simple cloth hinge I, is

glued or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the plates l and 2, along the contiguous edges. The hinged, contiguous edges of said plates l and 2 are the longer of the edges of their respective panels. Thus the sloped upper edges 3 and 4, rise to a common peakat the junction thereof.

The sheet music supporting surface or top member of my stand comprises two rectangular panels 8 and 9. As in the case of the aforementioned supporting plates, these surface panels are composed of similar semi-rigid flat sheet material.. To enhance the appearance of the said surface the two free corners along the outer edges are cut obliquely, thus providing angulated corners l0 on the aforesaid panels. The adjacent inner edges H and I2 of the two surface panels are contiguous, and are hinged by a cloth, or other similar hinge l3.

The folding upper surface composed of the said two surface panels 8 and 9, is then attached to the supporting plates by cloth or similar hinges 14 along the sloping upper edges 3 and 4 of the said supporting plates I and 2. The hinges 14 are attached to the undersurfaces of the upper, composite surface panels 8 and 9 in a manner so arranged that the positioning of said upper surface is symmetric upon the supporting plates, and that the hinge points meet at the aforementioned peak.

The stiffening flange I5 is an elongated bar of rigid, lightweight material such as wood. Basically of rectangular cross-section, a vertical extension of one face forms a lip l6 along the entire length of the said stiffening piece, which affords a rest for the sheet music, preventing it from sliding downwardly and off the surface.

A slot or groove I1 is formed in the same face of the stiffening piece as that which is extended for the lip IS. The said slot is of sufficient depth to afford a secure contact area for the front edges [8 of the composite surface panels 8 and 9 and, is made to conform substantially to the thickness of the sheet material of which the said upper surface panels are composed. Near one end of the said stiffening piece, an aperture I9 is provided for a pivot pin 20 and, a corresponding pivot pin aperture is provided in surface panel 9 at a point near the outermost edge thereof. The aforesaid pivot pin 20, then serves to attach said stiffening piece [5 adjacent the lower edge 18 of upper surface panel 9.

To set my stand in the open, useable position, the two supporting plates l and 2 are spread apart, the action being analogous to the opening of a book. In so doing, the upper supporting surface panels 8 and 9 are, because of hinge 14, also spread apart. The spreading effort draws the panels apart and by virtue of that fact the central hinged junction 1 3 is elevated until, when maximum open position is attained by the supporting plates 1 and 2, the upper surface panels 8 and 9 are very nearly in one plane at a slight angle from horizontal. The said angle is similar to that regularly embodied in conventional music stands. When this open, single surface position has been attained, the stand is ready for locking in open position. This is accomplished by virtue of stiffening piece 15. With the upper surface held as nearly flat as possible, the sa d stiffening piece is rotated about its pivot 20 until the longitudinal slot I1 engages the front edges N3 of the said surface panels 8 and 9, When the said panel edges have been recessed as much as possible into the slot, my collapsible music stand is securely and rigidly erected.

To collapse the stand, it is merely necessar to rever e the ab ve described actionfirst. the stiffening piece 15 is disengaged. Then. assisted y t e wei ht of material in the upper su face p nels, the upp r surface plat s, and the suppor ing panels are drawn together, the action resembling he closing of a book. Thi is nti ued until the two panels are substantiall juxtaposed and disposed between upper portions of the folded plates,

If desired, a simpl typ of fasten r m y be embodied spanning he i on vertical edges of the panels I and 2, so that th closure of my stand may be maintained, f r aximum p r ability a d effici nt storasa. un i s a n r quircd.

Since various modificati ns n b mad in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the fipirit and scope of the claim Without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification Shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

A collapsible stand comprising a base member consisting of a pair of upstanding rearwardly convergent plates having horizontal lower edges, vertical front edges, contiguous vertical rear edges and rcarwardly and upwardly inclined coplanar top edges, a, vertical hinge coextensive with and connecting the contiguous rear edges of said plates together whereby the plates may be swung inwardly to a juxtaposed folded position, a top member consisting of a pair of substantially coplanar panels disposed at the inclined top edges of the respective plates and projecting -outwardly beyond the same, said panels having front edges spaced upwardly from the lower edges of said plates by the front edges of the plates and also having contiguous inner edges coplanar with the rear edges of the plates, a center hinge coextensive with and connecting together the contiguous inner edges of said panels, said center hinge having its rear and disposed at the upper end of aid vertical hing a pair of m tual y convergent hinges connecting said anels to the upper edges of the respective plates and having their point of convergence disposed at the junction of the vertical and center hinges whereby the panels may be swung downwardly and inwardly to a folded position between upper portions of said plat s when the pl s ar fo d and a grooved bar removably positioned on the ront edge portions of said panels and extending transversely between the front edges of said plates for locki g the p els in a substantially coplanar relation.

MICHAEL P. WALZAK,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

